Control and Power Hardware-in-the-Loop tests for low-inertia power systems

This paper discusses some of the main research activities carried out at the LabZERO laboratory of Politecnico di Bari concerning smart grids management and Renewable Energy Sources (RES) control. In collaboration with research centers, industrial enterprises and system operators, this multidisciplinary lab investigates how RES and Distributed Energy Resources can be exploited in an efficient way to provide grid services for small and large power systems. This paper aims to show how Power Hardware-in-the-Loop tests have been adopted to validate Synthetic Inertia and Fast Frequency Regulation methodologies within experimental and industrial research projects in the field of smart distribution grids.

I. Introduction

LabZERO is a multidisciplinary laboratory located at Po-litecnico di Bari and created with the aim to develop methodologies and test technological systems for innovative smart grids and sustainable energy systems. This public living lab collaborates with entities of different nature, like small medium enterprises, public territorial bodies, Municipalities, public administrations, as well as university research groups and Transmission (TSOs) and Distribution System Operators (DSOs) [1], [2].